Community and culture: a Chinese model of community care for the mentally ill.

Although psychiatric hospitals are thought to be the main focus of care for the mentally ill, China has not inherited the large asylums that were, and are, such a feature in the West. China has developed her own model of community care for the mentally ill, which is coherent with what are seen to be the available resources and fits into existing structures of social organisation. The elements in this model include small neighbourhood workstations, factory clinic liaison work, 'home beds' and neighbourhood care units. So far alternative accommodation schemes appear to have no part to play in the model. The reasons for this are discussed. However, while the Chinese model of community care for the mentally ill is quite well articulated, there appear to be major problems in ensuring its implementation.